Palawan 2nd district Rep. Jose "Pepito" Alvarez literally rushed to the Senate in Pasay City on Thursday, June 4 after his name was included in a list of government officials who allegedly received money luggages ("maleta") from the so-called 18 Marine-bagmen.

The 81-year-old Alvarez sought to deny the payoff claim and reveal why he thought his name was on such list.

While Alvarez didn't make it to the actual Blue Ribbon Committee hearing where the ex-soldiers made the allegation, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano graciously allowed the congressman to hold an impromptu press conference.

"Wala akong tinanggap na pera, wala silang dinala sa akin na maleta (I did not receive any money, nor did they bring me any suitcase)," he told Senate reporters.

Alvarez then brought up a person who may have dragged him into the controversy.

"Mahirap man akong magsabi ng motibo, ngunit siguro may kinalaman doon sa pinadala sa akin ni Mike Defensor — nandito po ba si Mike? Si Mike Defensor nagpadala sa akin ng impeachment [complaint] ni Pangulo," the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) stalwart said, referring to the former congressman.

(It is difficult for me to state a motive, but perhaps it has something to do with what Mike Defensor sent me—Mike, are you here? Mike Defensor sent me the impeachment of the President.)

Alvarez claimed that he was being recruited to endorse an impeachment complaint against President Marcos in the House of Representatives. He said he rejected it.

"Pagkatapos, pinadala sa akin [yung complaint], na kung maaari daw i-endorso ko. Eh no’ng hindi ko inendorso, bigla na lang akong nagkapangalan dito," he said.

(After that, it was sent to me, asking if I could endorse it. When I did not endorse it, suddenly my name appeared here.)

The Palawan solon then shared a message from a certain "Margarette" who allegedly endorsed the complaint to him.

"'Mabuhay ka Congressman Jose Alvarez po, si Margarette ito.' Hindi ko kilala kung sino itong Margarette nagpadala sa akin," he said, as he read from his phone.

('Good health to you, Congressman Jose Alvarez po, this is Margarette.' I don't know this Margarette who sent this to me.)

"I’m writing on behalf of congressman Mike Defensor, to request for your endorsement of impeachment complaint against PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) for graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust."

"'Your principled stance’ — binola pa ako (she tried to flatter me) — ‘on accountability makes you an ideal endorser,'" Alvarez said.

He continued to quote Margarette: "We respectfully request for your public endorsement to strengthen this effort and uphold the rule of law. Attached is the complaint for your review, thank you for your consideration. Hello po, will you endorse?"

"Ang sagot ko (My answer was), ‘No, sorry.’ Hindi ko pa nga binabasa eh, pinapa-endorse na kaagad sa akin? (I haven't read the complaint and yet they immediately want me to endorse it?)"

"So sunod nun, kasama na po ako dito sa Marines [list] (After that I was included in the Marines' list)," the veteran lawmaker said.

"Pero I can say categorically wala po akong tinanggap na maleta galing kay Zaldy Co, dahil wala namang utang si Zaldy Co sa akin, wala rin akong utang sa kanya," underscored Alvarez.

(I can say categorically that I did not receive any suitcase from Zaldy Co, because Zaldy Co owes me nothing, and I owe him nothing as well.)

Co is a contractor-turned-congressman who has been tagged as a key personality in the flood control projects corruption scandal. He resigned as a House member in late September 2025.